Hafen
Bintan Island

OVERVIEW

See how the exclusive Bintan Resorts area offers a wealth of amenities yet still values the natural world, especially its protected mangroves. The Sebung River is lined with thick forests of mangroves that support a huge variety of wildlife, including silver leaf monkeys and macaques. You may spot them leaping from branch to branch as you cruise down the river. The intertwined aerial roots of mangroves provide much needed shelter for wildlife, prevent erosion and filter toxins. As you walk along the Poyotomo rice paddies, you will see that they were manmade but with respect for nature to ensure their sustainability. Because of the soil’s fertility, everything is green and lush. Plaza Lagoi is a fine example of how a modern shopping and entertainment hub can complement these beautiful surroundings. During free time in this serene setting, you can browse the shops, relax around an outdoor fountain and gaze out over the lagoon.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Settle back and enjoy a river cruise through a forest of environmentally beneficial mangroves.
• Walk along the Poyotomo rice paddies, which stretch as far as you can see.
• Spend free time in Plaza Lagoi, a mall with abundant shopping, dining and entertainment options.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath..
• Bring sunscreen and a hat.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Spend hours browsing the Tangjung Pinang City Center mall and relaxing at beach-rimmed Lagoi Bay, two vastly different experiences that showcase the diversity of Bintan Island. The mall lies in the heart of Tangjung Pinang, the bustling capital of the province. You will have plenty of time for shopping and dining in the dozens of stores and restaurants. Whether you’re looking for fashions, electronics or health and beauty products, you will find them all at the mall. The options around Lagoi Bay are just as plentiful. This being the only beach in the exclusive Bintan Resorts area, it is popular – and with good reason. The beach is wide, the waters are typically calm and crystal clear, shade is available and jet skis and snorkeling gear can easily be rented. But don’t feel obliged to do anything physical. Most people just stretch out in the sun and totally relax.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a carefree day doing exactly as you please at two vastly different attractions.
• Spend hours shopping and dining on your own in the Tangjung Pinang City Center mall.
• Relax on the beach that rims Lagoi Bay or rent watersports equipment if you’re feeling ambitious.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath..
• Bring sunscreen and a hat.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Explore the diverse attractions on Penyengat and come away with a historical perspective of this small island off the western shore of Bintan. An initial stop will be made to view the Gudem Bee Farm, whose apiaries are home to thousands of industrious bees that provide the source material for all sorts of natural products. As you will discover, the bees contribute more than mere honey. To reach Penyengat, you will ride in a traditional pompong boat, a small motorized vessel that allows you really enjoy the views along the way. The island lies just offshore, provided a particularly good look at downtown Tanjung Pinang. A driver will pedal you around the island in a becak, a three-wheeled covered bicycle similar to a rickshaw. Be sure to notice the blend of Javanese and Dutch architecture as you make your way to a restaurant for a traditional lunch.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Stop at the Gudem Bee Farm, whose bees provide the raw ingredients for numerous products.
• Travel by two traditional modes of transportation – a pompong boat and a rickshaw-like becak.
• View the unusual architecture on Penyengat Island, which was once an important seat of power.
• Enjoy a traditional Indonesian lunch at a restaurant near the port.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath..
• Bring sunscreen and a hat.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Ride a bus between three extraordinary coastal attractions and stay at each one as long as you like. The buses loop continuously between Plaza Lagoi, Treasure Bay and Pujasera. You can hop off at each destination or just visit the ones that sound most interesting. A bus will arrive every 30 minutes, so you won’t have to wait long when you’re ready to see the next attraction. Plaza Lagoi is a contemporary, two-story complex with shopping, dining and entertainment. There are so many options that you could easily spend the entire time there. Treasure Bay is an adventure park with kayaks, wakeboards, ATVs, bicycles and lots of other sports equipment. If you love the outdoors, it’s a perfect fit. Although you can dine most anywhere, Pujasera offers a collection of eclectic restaurants and cafés, so whatever cuisine you have in mind, you can find it there.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel by bus between three different attractions and stay at them as long as you like.
• Stop at the two-story Plaza Lagoi mall and spend hours leisurely shopping and dining.
• Enjoy the adventure park at Treasure Bay if you’re an outdoor enthusiast.
• Dine at Pujasera, the Indonesian word for “food court.”

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath..
• Bring sunscreen and a hat.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Spend hours relaxing on one of the most beautiful beaches that rim Lagoi Bay, a sheltered crescent-shaped body of water along the island’s northern shore. It won’t take long to reach the beach, giving you all the more time to enjoy the idyllic setting. You will be free to do most anything you please, even if it is nothing more energetic than basking in the sun or gazing out over the sea from the shade of a coconut palm. The beach at Lagoi Bay is wide and the water typically calm and crystal-clear, qualities that make swimming and beach-combing all the more inviting. Jet-skis and snorkeling gear can be easily rented if you wish. There is also a restaurant close by where you can dine on your own and perhaps linger over an ice-cold beverage. Lagoi Bay is wonderfully serene, just one of the reasons so many exclusive resorts decided to open there.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Relax for hours on a beach overlooking Lagoi Bay on Bintan’s northern shore.
• Swim in the sea, stroll along the shore, bask in the sun and do most anything else you wish.
• Rent watersports equipment such as jet-skis and snorkeling gear, if you like.
• Enjoy easy access to a beachfront restaurant and dine on your own.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath..
• Bring sunscreen and a hat.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Spend hours relaxing however you please at the Four Points by Sheraton, a waterfront hotel on Lagoi Beach, one of the most beautiful settings on the island of Bintan. It won’t take long to reach the hotel, giving you all the more time to enjoy its considerable amenities. Nestled between a manmade lake on one side and a sheltered bay on the other, this contemporary Sheraton property couldn’t be more idyllic. You can spend the entire time lounging on the beach, swimming in the typically calm waters and strolling along the shore, if you choose. There is plenty of room to stretch out and enjoy the views without a care in the world. Or if you prefer to relax around the swimming pool, feel free. Your day pass includes full access to the resort and a bountiful buffet lunch. If shopping is of interest, the mall at Lagoi Beach Village is adjacent to the hotel.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy hours of free time relaxing at the Four Points by Sheraton hotel on Lagoi Bay.
• Take full advantage of the beautiful beach as the hotel is right on the waterfront.
• Swim, lounge on the beach and around the pool, and enjoy a sumptuous buffet lunch.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath..
• Bring sunscreen and a hat.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Delve into the diverse culture of Tanjung Pinang, the provincial capital of the Riau Islands, which flourished as a trading post as far back as the 3rd century. Not far outside the city limits, you will find the Ekang Tourism Village, a small community whose goal is to raise environmental awareness because this area had once been devastated by fire. You can discuss the village’s success over coffee with one of the locals. In contrast, the 19th-century Banyan Tree Temple is a fine example of letting nature take its course, as this Chinese shrine is entangled in the aerial roots of a giant banyan tree. It makes for a great picture. Food will become the focus as you browse a traditional market with items ranging from freshly ground spices to sea snail crackers. Some of the locally sourced ingredients may be similar to those in the traditional lunch that follows at a nearby restaurant.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore the highlights of Tanjung Pinang, the culturally diverse capital of the province.
• Converse with a local over coffee in the Ekang Tourism Village.
• Snap photos of the giant banyan tree whose roots have taken over the Banyan Tree Temple.
• Browse a bustling market where you may see ingredients like those used in your lunch.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath..
• Bring sunscreen and a hat.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

View the manmade and natural wonders along the Trikora Coast that stretches down the eastern shore of Bintan Island. It won’t take long to realize why this coastline is so appealing. It is beach-rimmed, naturally beautiful and exceptionally laid-back. Many people come to visit the Grotto Santa Maria, a pilgrimage site that depicts the crucifixion of Jesus Christ through limestone statues that lead to a cave that holds a statue of the Virgin Mary. You will also see the red-brick furnaces at Rumah Arang that were once used to make charcoal. Being dome-shaped, they look like earth-tone igloos. In the garden at Lohan Temple, you will behold 500 neatly aligned sculptures of arahats, which are Buddhists that have reached a state of perfection and enlightenment. The sculptures are so detailed that they look lifelike. Visiting the Gudem Bee Farm will be an eye-opening experience as you will see a multitude of bee-related products.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take in the natural beauty along the Trikora Coast on the eastern shore of Bintan Island.
• Visit a grotto pilgrimage site and see 14 statues that depict the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
• Behold a staggering 500 statues of enlightened Buddhists that have reach a state of perfection.
• View a collection of domed furnaces for charcoal-making and see how fishing boat are made.
• Stop at the Gudem Bee Farm, whose bees provide the raw ingredients for their many products.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath..
• Bring sunscreen and a hat.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.